46-2A-7.5. Public hearing to review groundwater source--Notice--Retention of eligibility by applicant. For any groundwater source determined to be fully appropriated pursuant to § 46-6-3.1, the board shall hold a public hearing to review the groundwater source, all permits appropriating water from that source, and all held applications at least once every five years to determine whether unappropriated water is available. The chief engineer shall publish notice of the hearing at least once in at least one official newspaper in each county where the groundwater source is located. If the official newspaper is a weekly newspaper, the notice shall also be published at least once in a daily newspaper serving the general area where the groundwater source is located and posted on the department's website until the public hearing is completed. The chief engineer shall also provide notice of the five-year review and hearing to the address included in each applicant's file. Each applicant shall notify the chief engineer in writing within thirty days of receipt of the notice whether the applicant desires to retain eligibility to appropriate any water that the board may determine is available through its review of the aquifer. A fee equal to ten percent of their original application fee shall also be remitted to the chief engineer to retain eligibility. Failure of the applicant to notify the chief engineer in writing or remit the fee constitutes withdrawal of the held application.

Source: SL 2014, ch 214, § 6.